Britons triumph in wife-carrying contest

Dozens of athletic couples took part in the seventh annual UK wife-carrying
contest on Sunday in the Surrey town of Dorking

The event - during which men were required to tackle a 380-metre course while bearing a female partner - was won by Richard Blake-Smith and his "wife" Anna (55kg), who were awarded a barrel of ale for their troubles, as well as medals and T-shirts.

Second place went to Vytautas Kirkliauskas of Lithuania, who was carrying his actual wife, Neringa Kirliauskiene (52kg).

"We put in a whole week's work, running around the athletics track near where we live - and it's paid off," said Richard. "We were pushed hard, especially by the Lithuanians there. I can feel the burn in the quads."

"I'm fine," said Anna. "I just hold on."

The majority of couples - including the triumphant Richard and Anna - utilised the so-called "Estonian Hold", which leaves the woman's face somewhat buried in her husband's behind. There were a few old-fashioned piggy-backs on display, however.

Obstacles included haystacks to hurdle, a steep slope to conquer, and water pistols to dodge.

"It got really tough about two-thirds of the way up the hill," said Rick Pearson, another contestant. "At that point Georgie [his partner] was really squeezing my neck with her thighs."

Wife-carrying races are a northern European tradition. A World Championship is held annually in Sonkajarvi, Finland. The traditional rules require wives to be over 17 years of age, and weighing at least 49 kilos.

Richard and Anna's prize also included £250 towards taking part in the next World Championships. They may have their work cut out should they choose to enter - Finns Taisto Miettinen and Kristiina Haapanen have won it five years in a row.